Casey takes over Roseville’s parks

Philip Wood/The Press TribuneDominick Casey has taken over as the head of parks and recreation for the City of Roseville.

As one might expect, Roseville’s new head of parks and recreation is an avid exerciser.
Dominick Casey, 37, works out every morning before hitting up the office. It’s a routine he started while residing in Henderson, Nev., and one he continues here in Roseville, where he moved with his family earlier this month.
Casey became the City of Roseville’s Parks, Recreation and Libraries director Aug. 15, taking over for retired director Jeff Dubchansky.
He is responsible for overseeing the activities and operations of recreation and library program administration, and the construction, maintenance and acquisition of open space, parks, libraries, golf courses, recreation areas, landscape areas, and related facilities and buildings. Casey earns an annual salary of $175,282.
“I’d always heard great things about Roseville coming up in the profession,” Casey said. “It was a benchmark community … I wanted to come to a smaller community and help mold it.”
Casey was selected out of more than 100 applicants, said Rob Jensen, Roseville’s assistant city manager of operations.
“We wanted to find someone with proven leadership and who could (take us) from the urban to metropolitan community we’re headed towards,” Jensen said. “What pushed him over the top was his passion for parks and recreation and his understanding of how they affect quality of life and relate to the economic vitality of our community.”
Casey previously worked as deputy director for the parks and recreation department for the City of Henderson, a municipality covering roughly 100 square miles with nearly 260,000 residents, according to the 2010 U.S. Census count.
That award-winning department oversees 52 parks, 11 aquatic facilities and seven recreation centers with an annual budget of $38 million.
Roseville, with a population of about 120,000 residents, has 65 parks, 4,100 acres of open space, three libraries, three swimming pools, preschools and more. The parks, recreation and library department’s budget for the 2011-12 fiscal year is about $22 million.
Jensen visited Henderson to meet with residents and city staff to better gauge the relationships Casey had built during his 17 years working there.
“Across the board it was positive,” Jensen said. “They didn’t want to lose him.”
But Casey felt the time was right to move his wife and four daughters to California for the new opportunity. He said the two cities have similar philosophies related to parks and recreation, similar organizational structures and both continue to grow.
Casey wants Roseville to become synonymous — to residents and nonresidents alike — with premier parks, libraries and recreational opportunities.
“I want to be the best,” he said. “Parks bring a unique value and they make a vibrant community.”
He knows. He spends a lot of time in parks, hanging out with his family and coaching soccer games.
“I’m excited to be here,” Casey said. “I think Roseville is an outstanding community. The way I’ve been welcomed — I’m blown away.”
Sena Christian can be reached at senac@goldcountrymedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at SenaC_RsvPT.